The Trading Standards Joint Advisory Board of Harrow Council was scheduled to discuss the proposed fees and charges for the 2026/27 financial year and the operational work plan for the same period. The meeting's report pack also included the minutes from the previous meeting held on 5 November 2025.

Trading Standards Fees and Charges 2026/27

The board was scheduled to consider the proposed fees and charges for the Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service for the 2026/27 financial year. These fees are categorised into statutory fees, RPI-linked fees, and discretionary fees. The report outlined proposed adjustments to fees for services including explosive licenses, letting and property management penalties, and primary authority partnerships. For instance, the hourly rate for primary authority services was proposed to increase from £78.00 to £81.00 for fixed contracts and from £97.00 to £100.00 for pay-as-you-go services, reflecting a 4.2% RPI increase. Fees for weights and measures equipment verification and calibration were also detailed, with proposed increases. The report noted that the income generated from these fees in the previous financial year had exceeded budget expectations, partly due to increased activity at Wembley events.

Trading Standards Work Plan 2026/27

The board was also scheduled to review the proposed work plan for the Brent & Harrow Trading Standards Service for the 2026/27 financial year. This plan outlines the key work streams and priority areas for the service, aiming to protect consumers, support businesses, and ensure a fair marketplace. The plan is influenced by national priorities identified by the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB), which include tackling doorstep crime, illicit tobacco, and issues arising from the cost-of-living crisis. London Trading Standards (LTS) priorities, such as lettings, fair trading, and product safety, were also considered. The work plan details projected volumes of activities for both the Brent and Harrow teams, based on their respective staffing levels, covering areas such as complaint completion, trader inspections, underage test purchases, and enforcement actions like prosecutions and cautions. The plan assumes the 2026/27 budget will remain unchanged from the previous year, with adjustments to be made if budget changes occur.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The board was scheduled to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 November 2025. The minutes from that meeting indicated discussions on the Trading Standards Mid-Year Review and Operation CeCe, which focuses on tackling the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products. During the previous meeting, officers highlighted new legislation such as the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and the ban on single-use vapes. Enforcement activities, including test purchases and joint operations with police and HMRC, were also reported. The minutes also detailed discussions regarding the use of Closure Orders for repeat-offender tobacco premises and the challenges of preventing advance warnings among retailers.